Papermaking machine



SPt- 5, 1950 D. v. SMITH Erm. 2,521,261

` PAPERHAKING ummm Filed Feb. 21. 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 rif" L l i l INVENTORS.

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PAPERHAKING MACHINE Filed hb. 21, 1947 4 Sheefs-Sheet 5 George hC/'Zes 'ym aw Sept. 5, 1950 D. v. sMrrH Erm.

PAPERMAKING ummm 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 5, 1950 PAPERMAKING MACHINE Drexel V. Smith and George W. Miles,

Mobil Ala.

Application February 2l, 1947, Serial No. 729.908

s claims. 1

This present invention relates to improvements in paper making machines and more Iparticularly to a slice construction for controlling the output of the head box of such a machine.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a slice mechanism` adjustable to readily obtain the maximum or minimum drainage at desired points on the Fourdrinier belt of a paper making machine. This adjustabiliy is essential in making any and all weights and grades of paper and .board at any speed.

To make some grades of paper, a highly refined pulp must be used and the maximum drainage time on the Fourdrinier must be allowed as such pulp drains slowly. Such maximum drainage time is not necessary when making paper from a pulp only very little refined and thus draining too rapidly in contrast to the highly rened pulp.

Another object of the inventionvis to provide a slice mechanism characterized and including a bottom slice controlling vthe drainage.

A'further object is to provide a slice mechanism of simple and low cost construction and capable of adjustment while the machine is in operation. This feature eliminates shut downs or the head box of the machine, and this contributes substantially to a lowering of the cost of production.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a stand or bracket for mounting the slice mechanism and located rearwardly of the latter and also serving as a cat-walk for the operator while adjusting the slice. The cat-walk is so located that the operator adjusting the slice may maintain his upright position and, looking forwardly, observe the results of his adjustments.

With these and other objects in View which `will become apparent as the invention is fully understood, the same resides in the novelty of construction, combination and arrangement of elements described hereinafter in detail and distinctly claimed in the subjoined claims.

The description should be read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application and illustrating the practical application of the principles of our invention and wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation partly in section of the preferred embodiment of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a front end view;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical detail section;

` the several views- Figs. 1 and 3 show a fragment of a conven tional Fourdrinier wire belt l0, trained over breast roll Ii. and receiving paper stock from a Ahead box i2, which has its side surfaces tapering inwardly in the direction of its lower end inlet (not shown) as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The upper end of the head box I 2, is curved forwardly and forms the forwardly arched portion i3 of the back wall. The inner concave surlace i341 of the portion i3 will impart to the pulp an initial rolling action. By causing the pulp to Aroll immediately prior to its discharge, an interlbering action takes places which makes it possible to deposit a sheet of uniform texture on the Fourdrinier i, described.

The pulp is discharged over the iorwardly declining bottom i212, of and through a horizontal head box outlet ld. which at its rear end is connected to or integral with the horizontal extension ith, of the arched outlet portion it, of head box il. Extension ith forms a shortened top wail of outlet it.

Head box i2, is ilxedly supported on a frame or pedestal i5, having at its lower end laterally and horizontally extending flanges |5a, secured by bolts lib, to the rearwardlyextending horlzontal flange 16a, o1' a drain pipe I6. The flange Ita, rests upon the machine room floor l1.

The outlet spout I4, and curved head box portion I3 extend the full width of the Fourdrinier .belt- I 0. The'outlet spout Il is a rectangular box open at its rear and front ends and has the aforementioned forwardly declining bottom I2b, which terminates rearwardly of the forward end of the top wall |3b (see Fig. 3). The vertical side walls of the outlet I4, have extensions I la, projecting substantially forwardly oi the top and bottom walls 13b, 12b, respectively.

To close the bottom opening which extends between the lower ends of the vertical outlet sides and extensions Ila, a bottom slice Hb, is provided (Fig. 3) which takes the form of a plate of a width equal to the outer width of the outlet I4 and carrying near its transverse ends and on its top side, T-shaped ribs llc (Fig. 2). The same fit into corresponding T-grooves Hd, each formed in the lower edge portions of and opening through the lower edges of the head box out- 3 let sides Ila. The bottom slice I`4b tapers on top forwardly to a thin edge (see Figs. 2 and 3), and has its rear portion slidable in a recess I 4e, of bottom outlet wall I2b. This recess I4e, is open at the bottom and is located above the pedestal or frame I5.

Turning to Fig. 3, it will be noted that upon the lower side of the bottom slice I4b, are formed a desired plurality of spaced racks I4f, each in mesh with one of an equal plurality of gears able to a position in which its front end is a predetermined distance, say two inches forward of the axis of breast roll II, and to a position in which the same end is a predetermined distance, say two inches rearwardly of such axis.

A cam shaft I5z, has its cylindrical end portions journalled in the transverse ends of the forwardly projecting portion of pedestal I5, and projecting beyond these ends. The intermediate portion of this shaft I5r, forms an eccentric cam I5y, movable in a recess I5c, formed in the top portion of the pedestal l5, and opening through the top surface thereof. When the shaft |53.` is turned counterclockwise from a certain position, its cam will grip the under side of the bottom slice I4b, and hold the same in position.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the cylindrical end parts of shaft |521, carry each an arm I5d. having an opening in its free end. An eye bolt I5e, is pivoted to the frame by means of its eye and a pin I5f, inserted therein and extending from the frame. The bolt I5e, is disposed through the opening in arm I 5d, and may be pulled through such opening byfthe turn of a nut |59-, with the result that cam I5b, engages the underside of the bottom slice I4b, as indicated in Fig. 3.

Upon the top wall of head box outlet I4, and partly supported by the adjacent pulp-rolling arched portion I3, is xedly mounted a bearing and guide-providing housing I8, which extends the full width of said outlet I4. Housing I8. provides horizontal guideways at its sides adjacent the shortened top wall I3", of outlet I4 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5), for a plate 20. This plate carries at its front end the horizontally adjustable stand or support I9, for the vertically adjustable slice 33, 34 4which will now be dealt with.

A pair of guide rods 2l., are secured at their front ends to said vertical slice stand I3, and guided for horizontal movement in the housing I3, at the sides thereof. The rear portion of each guide rod 2I, is provided on its top side with teeth 22, forming a rack and adapted for meshing with a gear 23.

The gears 23, one for each rack 22, are xed upon transverse horizontal shaft 24, journalled in housing IB, and carrying on either end projecting beyond the sides of the housing. a hand wheel 25.

Turning to Figs. 2 and 3, it is seen that a transversely disposed horizontal cam shaft 23,

has cylindrical ends 23a, each journalled in and extending beyond the sides of the housing IB, adjacent the bottom thereof. The intermediate portion of shaft 26, forms an eccentric cam adapted to engage the subjacent stand-carrying plate 20, and hold the same in a desired position to which rotation of hand wheel 25, has moved it. Shaft 26, has upon either end projecting beyond the sides of the housing I8, an arm 30, which has an opening in its end for the passage of an eye bolt 29. This eye bolt 23 is pivoted by its eye upon a pin 3| projecting from the vertical side of the housing I8, and has upon the other end threads engaged by a nut 32, the turning of which will force the cam 26, against the top side of plate 20. As will be understood, plate20 provides to the extent desired, a cover for the open top of the outlet I4, and in advance of the shortened top wall I3b thereof-and between the side wall extensions I4a.

In the top of the slice stand I9, is journalled a shaft 32a, extending transversely and horizontally of the outlet I4, and beyond the opposite ends of said stand I8, as shown in Fig. 2. The

. end portions of the shaft 32a, projecting beyond the slice stand I9, carry each a hand wheel 32h. The intermediate portion of shaft 32a, between the journals is provided with a pair of spaced worms 32e, each of which meshes with a worm gear 32d. 'I'he worm gears 32d, rest upon the upper edges of a pair of spaced vertical walls 31. forming part of the stand I9. The spaced stand walls 31, have pairs of aligned transverse holes at opposite sides for rods 2l, the forward ends of which are fastened in stand I9.

Each worm gear 32d, carries on its top side a coaxial screw 32e, each engaging a nut 32f. Each nut 32f, is the lateral end of an adjustable frame including a horizontal top bar 32g. and a downwardly extending arm 32h, which latter is secured to the upper part of a slice carrying plate structure 34. This slice-carrying plate 34, is disposed between the vertical stand walls 3l, and is guided thereby during its vertical adjustment with frame 32g, 32f, etc., by the rotation of hand wheels 32h.

As shown in Fig. 2, the vertical slice-carrying plate 34, is substantially coextensive in width with the front opening of the outlet I4, and is, as stated, slidable in stand I3. This plate 34 is provided at its lower edge with a coextensive horizontal slot 34a for the vertically adjustable top slice 33. I'he plate 34, is further provided with a plurality of laterally spaced vertical holes 34h, each for a rod 35, which is welded or otherwise connected (36) at its lower end to the upper edge of the flexible top slice strip 33.

The upper end portion 35a, of each rod 35, is threaded for engagement in a hand nut 35b, which, as shown in Fig. 5, has a hub part journalled in an opening in the top bar 32g, and a flange at the lower end. The top slice 33, serves the purpose of maintaining the proper thickness of the paper sheet on the Fourdrinier Il), and of levelling the sheet across said Fourdrinier wire.

'I'he pulp runs onto the Fourdrinier wire III. before coming in contact with the vertical top slice 33, and is carried under said slice 33, thereby eliminating the spurt of pulp during the latters discharge onto the wire I0. Thus, the pulp is more easily controlled and given a better formation.

The top slice 33, is horizontally adjustable, through movement of its stand I9, to predetermined extreme positions, one of which we shall say is two inches rearwardly of the axis of the breast roll Il, and the other, say to a position ten inches forward of such axis. This horizontal adjustment of the top slice stand I9, the vertical adjustment of the slice-carrying frame 32g, IU. 34, and for that matter, the vertical adjustment of top slice 33, per se (still to be described), can be made by an operator using the housing ll, as a cat-walk. This is a distinct advantage over the prior art in which the cat-walk for the operator is either forward of the slice or above the same. Such prior art arrangement compels the operator to stoop down or lie down while making adjustments and to raise his head to see the results of his adjustment or to stand upright while adjusting and looking backward over his shoulder to see results. In our construction; the operator may make adjustments in an upright position and see the results of such adjustments.

The top slice is vertically adjusted by rotation of one of the hand wheels 32h and hand nuts 35h.

Adverting again to the vertical slice carrying vstand I9 of Figs. 2 and 3, it will be noted that its bottom carrying plate is supported at its sides on lineally extending shoulders 4U of the extended side walls i4a of .outlet i4. surfaces of the side walls of housing i8 provide continuation grooves 4| in line with shoulders 4I and the shortened top wall |3b of outlet I4 has a recess 42 connecting said grooves 4i as indicated in Fig. 3. Thus, the rear end of plate 20. will be housed and supported as indicated in Fig. 3. Housing I8 above the recess 42 and adjacent its forward end, has the transverse recess 43 which accommodates the cam 28. Of course, guiding and sustaining of the rear end of plate 20 may be otherwise provided for.

While we have illustrated and described the improved paper making apparatus of our invention in a more or less detailed manner, it will be understood, of course. that the invention is not to be regarded as limited to the particular arrangements illustrated and described but includes all changes and variations which do not constitute a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a paper making machine comprising in combination a Fourdrinier belt, an upstanding paper pulp supplying headbox therefor and being of relatively great height as compared to width and thickness, said headbox including at its upper end a substantially horizontal pulp outlet spout having top, side and bottom walls; a horizontally movable bottom slice projectable beyond the outer end of said bottom wall, a subjacent pedestal supporting said spout, the top of said pedestal and the outer surface of said bottom spout wall providing a horizontal bottomslice-receiving guide space closed at the sides but opening in the direction of travel of said belt and in a plane above the same, said bottom slice being slidable in the bottom guide space, actuating means for moving said bottom slice with respect to said belt, a housing carried by said outlet spout and substantially coextensive in width therewith, a vertically adjustable top slice movable toward and away from said belt, a horizontally adjustable stand therefor carried by said housing, and actuating means for each of said top slice and its stand.

2. In a paper making machine comprising in combination a Fourdrinier belt, an upstanding paper pulp supplying headbox therefor, said headbox including at its upper end a substantially Also.. inner 'substantially coextensive in width therewith, a

vertically adjustable top slice movable toward and away from said belt, a horizontally adjustable stand therefor .carried by said housing, and actuating means for each of said top slice and its stand.

3. In the combination set forth in claim 2. said horizontally adjustable top slice stand having a rearward extension within said housing, and, locking means engaging said stand extension and carried by said housing, said locking means being operable from the top of said housing.

4. In a paper making machine comprising in combination aFourdrinier belt, a paper pulp supplying headbox therefor and including a pulp outlet spout, a bottom slice movable outwardly as an extension of the bottom of said spout, a pedestal supporting said spout, said pedestal top and the bottom of said spout providing a guide recess for said bottom slice, said bottom slice being slidable in said recess, means for moving said bottom slice with respect to said belt. a housing carried by said spout and in part by said headbox, said housing being coextensive in width with said spout and headbox, a top slice stand movably carried by said yhousing for limited travel in the direction of movement of said belt, and a top slice vertically adjustably carried by said top slice support.'

5. A paper making machine comprising in combination a Fourdrinier belt, a head box for delivering paper pulp material to said belt, an outlet delivery spout extending horizontally from the head box, said spout including bottom, top and side walls, a pedestal supporting the head box and delivery spout, the bottom wall of the spout being tapered toward its forward edge, a horizontally movable bottom slice mounted in a recess formed between the top of the pedestal and the bottom of the spout, the bottom slice being movable outwardly past the bottom wall of the spout and guided in said recess, a bearing and guide-providing housing coextensive with the top wall of the outlet spout, a horizontally movable vertical slice stand mounted adjacent said housing, movable guide and supporting rods extending into the housing, a vertically adjustable slice plate mounted in said vertical slice stand and means carried by the vertical slice stand for vertically adjusting the slice plate to vary the thickness of pulp fed to the Fourdrinier belt.

6. The combination recited in claim 5 including. a horizontal rod having gears thereon mounted in a recess in the top of the pedestal, the rod extending outwardly past each side of the pedestal, the horizontally movable bottom slice having racl on its under side engageable by the gears to horizontally move the bottom slice and thereby control the point at which the pulp is fed to the Fourdrinier belt.

7. In the combination recited in claim 5, said pedestal having a cam mounted in a recess within the upper portion of the pedestal and operable V- 7 to engage the bottom slice and hold the same in fixed position.

8. A paper making machine comprising in combination a. Fourdrinier belt, a head box for delivering paper pulp material to said belt, an outlet delivery spout extending horizontally from the head box, said spout including bottom, top and side walls, a pedestal supporting the head box and delivery spout, the bottom wall of the spout being tapered toward its forward edge, a horizontally movable bottom slice mounted in a recess formed between the top of the pedestal and the bottom of the spout, the bottom slice being movable outwardly past the bottom wall of the spout and guided in said recess, a bearing and guide-providing housing coextensive with the top wall of the outlet spout, a horizontally movable vertical slice stand mounted adjacent said housing, movable guide rods extending into the housing, a vertically adjustable slice plate mounted in said housing and means carried by the vertical slice stand for vertically adjusting the slice plate to vary the thickness of pulp fed to the Fourdrinier belt, a cross shaft mounted in said housing, gears mounted on said cross shaft, racks on the vertical slice stand guide rods position.

DREXEL V. SMITH. GEORGE W. MILES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nle of this patent:

UNrrED 'STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,022,298 Neilson Nov. 26, 1935 2,060,808 Kellett et al Nov. 17, 1936 2,134,408 Kellett Oct. 25, 1938 2,203,802 Thaler June 11, 1940 2,325,016 Warren July 20, 1943 2,344,281 Berry et al Mar. 14, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 395,539 Great Britain July 30, 1933 

